My thoughts are that I was really hoping Indy and/or Washington would lost their last game and push the Bulls into the 5 or 6 seed where they would have a fighting chance. Instead, I foresee 3 close losses and a blowout loss for Da Bulls this year. They don't have anyone who can seriously contend with Shaq down low. Sad as it is, this is the one time I kind of miss Eddy Curry, as he played Shaq well.

The thing about Detroit's year that's been so unbeleivable is that whereas Phoenix had the loss of their big man, that Duncan has been injury-plagued all year and Miami had Shaq out periodically and that whole coach/chemistry thing, Detroit is the only team that didn't have a major hurdle this year. Which means it's usually years like that where teams win championships and Detroit's been very fortunate to have it. Conversely, Milwaukee is more of a team that's happy to be there than they are a potential spoiler. They had a great year to get where they are, but they're just not ready to go into the ring with the Pistons right now. Once they get Redd engulfed on the perimeter, finding and alternate first option (as opposed to a 2nd option) is going to be the hard part.

Pistons in 4======Miami Heat (2) vs Chicago Bulls (7)

There are two main factors about this series on Miami's end, and strangely neither one of them is problem #3 (namely, who from The Other Guys is going to be healthy/step up), the first is where we find out if Shaq has been sandbagging this whole time or not, and the other is whether how Wade plays versus Chicago is hometown jitters or the fact that Chicago might have figured out how to contain him within their scheme.

Chicago's best chance in this series is to outshoot Miami and beat their defenders going around the corner, since they've had trouble with quick perimeter players all year long on defense. And that's where Ben Gordon comes in. Chicago's been fighting to get here and Miami basically took the first two-thirds of April off and the danger of the Heat not being able to throw the switch is right there, especially versus a young, hungry team. But until the Baby Bulls actually win a playoff series, they will be tournament-suspect.

Heat in 6

=====New Jersey Nets (3) vs Indiana Pacers (6)

This is where not having Ron Artest anymore really hurts them, for matchups such as Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. Plus, Indiana seemed to teeter down the stretch, whereas New Jersey almost caught up with Miami for the #2 spot. As long as Indiana can't stop New Jersey's perimeter game, it spells doom in spite of their interior advantage, and New Jersey's lack of an interior doesn't bite them until Round 2 versus Miami.

Nets in 4=====

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Wizards

There are two factors involved here that could be fatal for Cleveland that have nothing to do with LeBron James' ankle. The first is that they're a first time in the playoffs with little to no experience across the board, which sometimes results in teams falling into holes they don't yet know how to get out of. Also, unless they feel like having LeBron hack away at him at the top of the key (and they don't), Cleveland does not have an answer for either Gilbert Arenas or Jamison, both of whom have shown in the postseason they can take over games at will. LeBron probably has that ability as well, but he doesn't have enough help versus a Wizards team that has really underachieved until now this season.

Hee, this is a situation in which I'd have no idea who to root for. Being a Pacers fan there's no way I'm rooting for the Pistons, and yet those freakin' Bucks somehow managed to overcome a 16-point deficit against us in about three seconds or so. (Bad free-throw shooting killed us.)

The Pistons have been champions before, are determined to be champions again, and won't let an eight seed stand in their way. Pistons in 4, 5 tops.

#2 Miami Heat vs. #7 Chicago Bulls

I'm not convinced the Heat are as good as everyone seems to think they are. Of course, this is again coming from a Pacers fan, who's seen his team beat the Heat 16 out of the last 18 regular-season games or something like that. (It's just the Hawks and Bobcats that give us trouble).

The Bulls are no doubt excited to be back in the playoffs, and they'll try to prove that being here two years in a row wasn't a fluke. They'll give the Heat a tough run of things but ultimately come up short.

Heat in 6 or 7.

#3 New Jersey Nets vs. #6 Indiana Pacers

I'm extremely superstitous during the playoffs, and therefore I don't make predictions regarding my own team. I'll just point out that I'm rooting for the Pacers, and not try to prognosticate how they're gonna do in the playoffs. NEXT

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Washington Wizards

This will be a fun series to watch, but I think ultimately LeBron's talent will be the thing to push the Cavs ahead of the Wizards and set up another entertaining matchup against the Pistons (which the Cavs will lose).

Pistons vs. Bucks: Only thing in doubt is whether the Bucks can take the series the full 4 games for the sweep. Pistons in 4.

Heat vs. Bulls: I say the Riley moves from the summer backfire, and Riley does worse than Stan Van Gundy coaching the team in the playoffs. Bulls in a shocking 6.

Pacers vs. Nets: Pacers are imploding and the Nets are more talented. Nets in 5.

Cavs vs. Bullets/Wizards: David Stern does a jig celebrating his new golden child LeBron getting into the post-season. He thanks God that the Lakers and Kobe survive the first round when the Cavs get bounced quick. Bullets/Wizards in 6.

Second Round

Pistons vs. Bullets/Wizards: Next. Pistons in 4.

Nets vs. Bulls: Bulls celebrate first playoff win in years by forgetting to show up for the first two games of the series. Nets in 5.

Conference Finals

Pistons vs. Nets: This will actually be a difficult series for the Pistons. Nets have played Pistons tough in post-season in recent seasons. Nets will play them tough, but not enough to get over the top. Pistons in 7.

Finals

Pistons vs. Spurs. Rematch from last season, ends in similar result. Spurs in 6.

Originally posted by Packman V2God bless us playing the Heat, now every game will be on a major network, and not just NBA.TV like it was last year when the Bulls took on the Wizards. YIPPEE!

Heh, enjoy it for the four or five games it'll last before the Heat end Chicago's season. I'm rooting for the Bulls, though, don't get me wrong.

Considering we even made the playoffs without Eddy Curry I think is a major accomplishment, so I expect us to get bounced early as well, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, a top 5 pick (thank you Knicks) and a mid first round pick would be great, especially if we can get a big to replace our losses. But even if we get swept, it's nice not being relegated to NBATV games to do so.